Superwoman targets her ex-employer

CITY Superwoman Nicola Horlick is eyeing a takeover of the fund management firm that propelled her into the headlines in 1997.

Her new firm Bramdean is understood to have expressed an interest in buying Deutsche Bank's London asset management arm. She has asked Deutsche for information on the terms of the sale.

Horlick, who earned her nickname by caring for a large family at the same time as managing multi-billion share portfolios, shot to fame after she was suspended by Deutsche Morgan Grenfell in 1997, just days after she had been promoted to managing director.

She resigned after being accused of trying to defect with her team to a rival. Horlick made headlines after turning up at the headquarters of her German bosses with a posse of journalists.

Bramdean, which is backed by her friends and family, opened for business in January. 'The ironies of the situation are not lost on Nicola,' said a friend. 'She has a knowledge of the business and some people she knows still work there.'

Deutsche said in December that it would review the future of its UK fund business which has assets under management of £55bn. The business could sell for around £550m.

Horlick stepped down last year as head of Societe Generale's asset management arm. She built her reputation in the male-dominated Square Mile at Mercury Asset Management, now Merrill Lynch Investment Managers, and then at Morgan Grenfell Asset Management which was bought by Deutsche Bank in 1990.